Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any experience to enrol on the nutritionist course?
You don't need any experience.
How long are the modules?
The length of the modules varies from 15 to 30 pages.
What sort of questions are asked in the assignments?
The assignments involve a range of case studies and research assignments.
Is the course accredited?
 Our
course is fully accredited by the national awarding body
NCFE. On completing the course you get a national award equivalent
to Level 4 of the National Qualification Framework (NQF).
NCFE is recognised as an awarding body by the qualification
regulators for England, Wales and Northern
Ireland. The regulators are the Office of the Qualifications
and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England, the Department
for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS)
in Wales and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and
Assessment (CCEA) in Northern
Ireland.
To read more about NCFE please go to www.ncfe.org.uk We
are registered with NCFE under our corporate trading name
of 'Home Study Courses Limited'.
How long does it usually take to complete the course?
The course can take five months to complete. But you can do it as quickly or slowly as you want.
Can I put letters after my name?
Yes, on successfully completing the course, you may use the letters 'Dip N (Inst NH) ' after your name.
Can I call myself a Nutritionist?
Yes, you can call yourself a Nutritionist. As the official NHS website states: "As well as full and part-time courses, it is possible to study via distance learning or to do a short course." - http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx?Id=840
Can I call myself a Dietitian?
No. As the official NHS careers website says: "It is necessary to have a recognised degree, MSc or post graduate diploma in nutrition and dietetics to work as a dietitian." - http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx?Id=840
The British Nutrition Foundation says: "The title 'dietitian' is protected by the Health Professionals Council (HPC), meaning that dietitians must be fully qualified and registered with the HPC in order to use the title dietitian" - http://www.nutrition.org.uk
Can I practice in the USA?
It depends on the state. As the official US government Department of Labor website says: "Licensure, certification, or registration requirements vary by State" - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos077.htm
Can I practise in Australia?
Yes. As the official Australian dieticians' website says rather grumpily, "'Nutritionist' is a non-accredited title that might apply to a qualified nutrition scientist or a self-professed nutrition adviser. - http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?PageID=2145833454#difference
Can I practise in Canada?
Broadly, yes. In some Canadian provinces the term nutritionist can be used by anyone with or without any formal education or training. The term "Registered Nutritionist", however, is protected by law in Alberta,
British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Quebec and the term "Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist" is protected by law in News Brunswick. In these cases, the educational requirements are the same for both dietitian and nutritionist.
If in doubt, you should use the term 'Nutritional Advisor' or 'Nutrition Consultant'.
Professional bodies for learners in South Africa
In South Africa there are some organisations that you may
come across. These include:
SAANT (South African Association
for Nutritional Therapy) which is a self appointed body and
has no regulatory authority.
However, a nutritionist learner may want to join as an Associate
Member.
AHPCSA (The Allied Health
Professions Council of South Africa) is a statutory health
body, however there is no government control over nutritionists
in South Africa.
The AHPCSA legislation governs all medical and mental professionals.
The legislation is primarily intended to regulate doctors
and dentists, but to be absolutely safe, it would be wise
to give client’s a document pointing out that you are
not going to treat any medical or mental conditions.
What associations can I join?
Our learners can join the Complimentary
Medical Association (CMA).
It costs £50 a year to join as a Student Member (while
you are studying) and once you qualify you can join as an
Associate Member as long as you join within 2 years of qualifying
- this costs £100 a year.
To get to the CMA website,
click on this link - www.the-cma.org.uk.
Additionally, our learners can join the Institute
for Complimentary and Natural Medicine, who administer the BRCP (British Register
of Complementary Practitioners).
The Institute for Complementary and Natural Medicine (ICNM)
is a UK-registered charity that was formed in 2008 from the
merger of two charities, the Institute for Complementary
Medicine(ICM) and the Nature Cure Clinic (NCC). The ICM was
formed in 1982 to provide the public with information on
all aspects of the safe and best practice of Complementary
Medicine through its practitioners, courses and research.The
NCC was formed in 1928 and took a pioneering approach to
natural medicine by offering free treatments to those who
could not otherwise have afforded them.
The ICNM aims to build a bridge between complementary and
natural medicine and allopathic healthcare.
The ICNM administers the British Register of Complementary
Practitioners (BRCP) which is a Register of professional
Practitioners and Therapists who have provided evidence
of their individual competence to practise.
To get to the Institute for Complimentary and Natural
Medicine website, click on this link - www.i-c-m.org.uk/about.
Our learners can’t join The National
Therapy Council; you can only join them if you have studied
one of the courses that they have accredited.
Our learners can’t join BANT, British
Association for applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy.
You can only register with them if you have studied a course
accredited by the Nutritional Therapy Council.
Is the course accredited on the NTC Register?
The Register is purely voluntary.
You can practise with or without registration on the Register.
We haven't applied to have our course accredited because
we already have accreditation with NCFE, and because
the register is mainly aimed at university courses, but it's
something we'll continue to review.
How can I be sure that you're legitimate, and that you won't disappear with my money?
Here are some answers we hope will reassure you.
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We've been in operation since 1995; so we're very established.
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We publish our physical address at the bottom of each page - and you are welcome to visit us.
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We're audited by NCFE twice a year (you can phone them to verify they do that).
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You can read the Reviews of our students on the web site.
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You can ask us for the contact details of former students who will talk to you about their experiences.
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We publish an Ethical Statement here: www.inst.org/ethics.htm
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We're registered at Companies House: registration number 352 4886
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Our VAT number is 729 1528 23
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Our bank is NatWest, 7 High Street, Wells, Somerset (we have money in the bank and no loans or overdraft).
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We're registered with the UK government's Register of Learning Providers (www.ukrlp.co.uk); Number 10009490.
And finally, we love what we do; and we wouldn't do anything to jeopardise it.
Have you got any other questions about becoming a nutritionist?
If you have any more questions about how to be a nutritionist, contact us - we'd love to hear from you. Phone us on the numbers below, or email us using the contact form here.
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